An interim analysis for safety and tolerability will be performed after at least the first cycle of study drug has been completed. If the study treatment is found to be safe and no dose-limiting toxicity has occurred, the dose of VELCADE will be increased to 1.3 mg/m2 and another 11 patients will be treated at this dose level according to the treatment schedule as outlined above. The dose escalation to 1.3 mg/m2 will be performed without delay if no AE or SAE are reported to the principal investigator.